Viola M. DiFrancesco

Viola M. DiFrancesco (nee DiPasquale), 85, passed away Friday, December 27, 2013. She was born September 29, 1928 in Lorain, where she resided for her entire life.

She graduated from Lorain High School in 1947. Viola was employed as a bookkeeper for the S.S. Kresge Company following high school. She married Arthur Steve DiFrancesco on February 11, 1950. After marriage, she was a homemaker and became involved with the Parent Teacher Association as a treasurer for Charleston Elementary School. She was a parent leader for her son’s Cub Scout troop. She also provided physical therapy for a neighborhood child with disabilities.

Viola enjoyed baking for wedding and baby showers, weddings, christenings and holidays. She was particularly noted for her delicious fruitcakes and Italian pastries. Viola was a member of St. Peter’s Church of Lorain, where she was involved in numerous activities. She was a member of the St. Francis of Assisi Mission Group and Senior Citizens of the parish. Viola participated in the making of Baptismal bibs for the church. For two decades, she helped organize the rolling and cooking of the meatballs for the spaghetti dinners which served as fundraisers for the church.

Left to cherish her memory are her children, Diane (David) Karolak of Lorain, Steven (Lisa) DiFrancesco of Oswego, Illinois and Debra (James) Miadock of Lorain; along with seven grandchildren and two great granddaughters; sisters, Margaret (Angelo Marino) DiFrancesco of Lorain and Virginia Moody of Amherst.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 63 years, Arthur Steve DiFrancesco; parents, Emil and Anna (nee Amato) DiPasquale; sisters, Ida Berni and Mary Lou Harcula.

Viola’s family will receive friends and family at Reidy-Scanlan-Giovannazzo Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 2150 Broadway, Lorain, (440) 244-1961, Monday, December 30, 2013 from 3 to 7 P.M. Closing prayers will be held at the funeral home Tuesday, December 31, 2013 at 8:45 A.M. followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 9:30 A.M. at St. Peter Church, 3655 Oberlin Ave., Lorain, with Fr. Craig M. Hovanec, Pastor, officiating. Christian Burial services will follow at Calvary Cemetery, Lorain.